ATTACHMENT J.8 JA CBSI amend LAC-IEE-15-08.pdf

LAC-IEE-15-08

ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD DECISION

Activity Location: Jamaica

Activity Title: Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI)

Program, the DGP Transitional Living Program for

Children in State Care and Jamaica Cares Project.

Activity Number: TBD

Life-of-Activity Funding: $20,788,521

Life-of-Activity: FY 2013 – FY 2018

IEE prepared by: Kenneth Williams, Program Management Specialist

(Activity Manager – Jamaica Cares)

Reference ETDs: LAC-IEE-13-21, LAC-IEE-14-37

Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions

Bureau Threshold Decision: Concur with recommendation

Comments:

This Environmental Threshold Decision amends LAC-IEE-13-21 and LAC-IEE-14-37, which cover the entire Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Program and the USAID Development

Grants Program (DGP) Transitional Living Program for children in State Care activity, to include the new Jamaica Cares Project.

A Categorical Exclusion continues to be issued to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative

(CBSI) Program, including all components of the Jamaica Cares Project, except for the activities listed below, pursuant to 22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2):

(i) Education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.);

(iii) Analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings;

(v) Document and information transfers; and

(xiv) Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries to engage in development planning, except to the extent designed to result in activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.);

A Negative Determination with Conditions is issued to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative

(CBSI) Program for the following activities:

Component 1, Activity 1: Small grants to provide support for community-based organizations and, Establishment of a competitive small grants program for communities and civil society organizations; Community Pilot Project activities TBD.

Component 1, Activity 2: Support and strengthen legitimate local governance structures including CBOs and CDCs, Retrofitting community disaster shelters and equipping them with rainwater harvesting systems and renewable energy systems to supply “off-grid” power which may require small-scale construction.

Component 1, Activity 3: Supporting youth empowerment in communities and creating youth-centered spaces and activities. Mitigation measures will be implemented and monitored for the renovation or the small-scale construction of the residential housing facility, which may have minor adverse environmental impacts.

Component 3: Encourage alternative sentence (to jail) programs for juveniles, Activity 3:

Reintegration and Rehabilitation: Under DGP-5, the UWI/CCDC’s “Transitional Living

Programme for Children in State Care”

Component 4, Activity 1. Continue su bpport for the national roll-out of community-based policing Community Pilot Project activities TBD.

Conditions include the following:

The implementer will be required to complete an EMPR for any Negative Determination with Conditions activities listed in Section 3.1 of this IEE to identify any potential negative impacts, identify appropriate mitigation measures, and ensure that monitoring of the mitigation measures implementation and effectiveness is completed. In addition, the

Implementing Partners shall apply the following mitigation measures to ensure that environmental concerns are taken into account during both the design and implementation of the project activities:

Implementing partner(s) shall follow environmental best practices in construction for small scale infrastructure activities, such as the disaster shelter rehabilitation project under Component 1 as well as other activities that may take place under the community pilot projects or small grants program. These best practices include minimizing the amount of environmental degradation and disturbance to land, water, and other resources due to soil compacting and grading, sedimentation, water contamination, displacement of local populations (human, plant, and animal) and habitats, and damage to cultural sites, for example. Global climate change must also be considered and mitigation and adaptation measures incorporated whenever it is feasible.

A mitigation and monitoring plan (EMPR form) for the rainwater harvesting and renewable energy systems is presented in the attached table that may be incorporated into the work plan. Similar plans may be required for activities under the community pilot projects and small grants program that trigger the need for mitigation.

Mitigation activities will require the implementing partner(s) to assess the safest procedures feasible for construction, environmental and human health protection, and essential hygiene practices through adequate sanitization of products, safe disposal of materials, water purification and safe storage.

Implementing partner(s) will be required to follow the WHO’s guidelines for safe disposal of human waste and trash, environmental sanitation and safe water found at:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health. The implementer will be required to submit rainwater harvest and purification designs and renewable energy system plans to

USAID/Jamaica for approval prior to construction of the prototype and adapted models.

Implementing partner staff and USAID will ensure that each activity uses environmentally sound principles and includes long-term operational and maintenance plans beyond the life of the program to help ensure that all activities have adequate buy-in and long-term sustainability (see Sustainability Analysis section).

USAID/Jamaica and/or the contractor shall consult with community leaders and organizations as well as law enforcement and other state entities to help assure that the proposed mitigation measures are realistic and likely to be followed.

Language in contracts and agreements should be included to ensure that the

Contractor/Implementing Partner is aware of and implements required mitigations or other prescribed environmental management measures pertinent to Regulation 216. The specific language to be included in all contracts and agreements is outlined in the attached IEE.

Other conditions specified in the attached IEE under 3.2 Mitigation, Monitoring and

Evaluation.

Amendments

• Amendments to Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE) shall be submitted for LAC Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) approval for any activities not specifically covered in the IEE, which include:

o Funding level increase beyond ETD amount, o Time period extension beyond ETD dates (even for no cost extension), or o Additional activities or a change in the scope of work, such as the use of pesticides or activities subject to Foreign Assistance Act sections 118 and 119 (e.g. procurement of logging equipment), among others.

• Amendments to IEEs, including Environmental Assessments (EAs ), require the approval of these documents by the LAC BEO, and could require an annual evaluation for environmental compliance.

Copy to:

Copy to:

Copy to:

Copy to:

Attachments:

~iekt-t'~ate;;lcv.29 zo1> ictor H. Bullen '

Bureau Environmental Officer Bureau for Latin America & the Caribbean

Jeanette Vail, USAID/Jamaica, Acting Mission Director

Suzanne Ebert, OEH Malden Miller, MEO Kenneth Williams, Project Mgmt Specialist Claire Spence, OCS Nicole Graber, OCS James Burrowes, OPPM

Paul Schmidtke, REA, USAID/DR

Jene Thomas, Jayanthi Narain, LAC/CAR Vanessa Reilly, LAC/RSD

IEE File

• Initial Environmental Examination Amendment

File: P:\LAC.RSD.PUB\RSDPUB\ENV\Reg 216\IEE\IEE15\ LAC-IEE-15-08 ETD (JA -

Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, CBSI, amend LAC-IEE-13-21, 14-37).doc

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

Activity Location: Jamaica

Activity Title: Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Program, the

DGP Transitional Living Program for Children in State

Care and Jamaica Cares Project.

Activity Number: [To be Assigned by Contracting Office]

Life-of-Activity Funding: $20,788,521

Life-of-Activity: FY 2013 – FY 2018

Reference Threshold Decision: This IEE amends LAC-IEE-14-37, the New USAID

CBSI Program; the DGP-5 “Transitional Living Program for Children in State Care” project to include the

“Jamaica Cares” project to be implemented by the

University of Technology (UTECH).

IEE Amendment Prepared by: Kenneth Williams, Program Management Specialist

(Activity Manager – Jamaica Cares)

Date Prepared: Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion, Negative Determination with

Conditions

1. Background and activity/program description

1.1 Purpose and Scope of IEE

This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is a requirement of USAID cited in the Automated

Directives System (ADS 204.5.1). The purpose is to determine the impact of activities implemented by USAID/Jamaica’s “Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Program” and the Transitional Living Program for Children in State Care Project to ensure that they are in accordance with Section 117 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961 as amended that

“requires that USAID have appropriate environmental impact assessment procedures”. This IEE has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines set out in the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) Environmental Procedures (22 Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR) 216). This IEE serves to amend LAC-IEE-14-37 that covers the entire

Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Program, and the USAID Development Grants Program

(DGP) Transitional Living Program for children in State Care activity to now include the

Jamaica Cares Project. This is based upon the direction in USAID/Jamaica’s new Country

Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for 2013-2018 and covers future activities including under the CBSI through 2018.

1.2 Background

It is undeniable that the increase in violence and crime in Jamaica has significantly impacted the high levels of insecurity being experienced in many communities across the island. While homicide rates have declined from a peak rate of 62 per 100,000 in 2005 to 53 per 100,000 in

2010, Jamaica ranks first in homicide rates and other violent crime in the Caribbean, and has historically sustained high homicide rates for over 20 years. Findings from the 2009

Victimization Survey indicated that a high percentage of citizens feel unsafe or very unsafe outside of their own homes and outside their communities. A high percentage of respondents to the survey indicate feeling unsafe conducting various day to day activities such as using public transport, going to school or work, shopping, or attending entertainment events after dark.

The criminal statistics show that both the perpetrators and victims of crimes are disproportionately youth between the ages of 14 and 25. The CARICOM Commission on Youth

Development Report stated that among males aged 15-24, homicides were the leading cause of death (at 19.8%). However, increasingly violence has involved women, not only as victims of crimes by men, but also as perpetrators of violence against other women. The Economic and

Social Survey of Jamaica indicates that women remain the primary victims of rape and domestic violence, and secondary victims of violence directly affecting young males.

According to the 2006 Roadmap to a Safe and Secure Jamaica, safety and security concerns in

Jamaica is more prevalent in specific parishes and underserved urban areas, and is higher in areas where trust in the police and the broader state is lower. These neighbourhoods and communities have higher rates of poverty, unemployment, lower educational attainment, low social capital, poor housing stock, and low levels of investment in public spaces. Inequality and relative poverty provide a fertile ground for crime; and in turn, high levels of crime and violence interfere with human, social and economic development. The security situation, ineffective security governance and social development arrangements undermine Jamaica’s ability to establish and maintain a viable economy that can sustain acceptable levels of well-being for the majority of its citizens.

In addition general public distrust of the police, incidence of police corruption and abuse of citizen rights have created an uneasy distance between the police and citizens. This lack of confidence, trust and lack of legitimacy of the police force has important implications for their effectiveness, contributing to a sense of impunity from prosecution and exposing those most vulnerable to further victimization. The traditional style of para-military policing used in Jamaica for many years is not suitable to deliver modern policing and community safety services.

According to a recent government review of policing in Jamaica, ‘The Report of the Jamaica

Constabulary Force (JCF) Strategic Review Panel’, the security situation and the relative threat against the police have led to methods of policing that are “militaristic” and ineffective, and the police have been “slow to adopt a culture of public service, community-based policing and respect for human rights.”

To increase peace and security in Jamaica, both law enforcement itself and the community’s ability to work with police in addressing crime and violence must be enhanced. Crime and violence destroy communities from the inside by eroding interpersonal trust as well as trust between citizens and the institutions that are supposed to protect them. The National Crime

Prevention and Community Safety Strategy (NCPCSS) postulates that crime and violence must be recognized as a broader social issue that goes beyond traditional law enforcement, and requires different prevention efforts and social interventions to effectively reduce crime and violence. Strong communities are critical to stemming the rising tide of crime and violence;

community members must present a united front against delinquent behavior and provide help and opportunities to those at risk of engaging in delinquency, while working alongside the JCF.

To generate the trust needed for viable partnerships between communities and the GOJ, greater transparency and accountability from institutions, including the JCF, are critical elements.

Youth ages 15-24 are both the largest group of perpetrators and primary victims of violent crimes. Thus, any efforts to stem the violence must focus on youth, not only because of their high level of involvement, but also because the future of any nation lies in the development of its youth into strong and productive citizens.

Activities will be closely coordinated with local partners in the JCF, the Social Development

Commission (SDC), the Child Development Agency (CDA), as well as non-governmental organizations, civil society and community based organizations, the International Donor Partners and other U.S. Government sectors. The Contractor must be sufficiently flexible to respond to new requests and windows of opportunity, although any new activities must be approved by the

USAID/Jamaica Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Activities will include technical assistance and financial support for community-driven programs to build and promote safer communities, including encouraging youth to develop their full potential by providing educational and training opportunities, as well as other activities targeting some of the core underlying causes of crime (poverty, lack of opportunity, lack of self-esteem, poor parenting, etc.); support for key civil society institutions; technical assistance, training and support to foster a culture of lawfulness in several key sectors; technical assistance, training, and support to encourage diversion (to jail) programs for juveniles; and direct technical assistance and training to design/implement specific institutional changes in the JCF in support of enhancing and fully institutionalizing CBP. Other activity includes the renovation or construction of a transitional residential facility to accommodate 40 female juveniles leaving State care with nowhere to live. The objective is to provide a stable living arrangement that will help them make the transition into adulthood and independent living through an exit-readiness program of life skills and workforce readiness training that address employability and lifestyle choices/health.

The Contractor should seek to build the basis for longer-term and sustainable reforms by incorporating the following approaches into its programming:

Empower local leaders and community organizations to take leadership in promoting and partaking in greater civic engagement;

Enhance relationships and build confidence among key stakeholders, including police, community groups, civil society organizations, and key governmental institutions;

Build consensus among key stakeholders and the general public on the need for a transparency and accountability in government in particular and society in general, and on the specific reforms needed to achieve it;

Support key partners and stakeholders in juvenile diversion (to jail) programs; and

Support of the JCF CBP program and to further entrench CBP at all levels of JCF training.

Additionally, the Jamaica Cares project will capitalize on existing USAID/Jamaica and the

Government of Jamaica (GOJ) endeavors and create new opportunities and partnerships in building pubic demand for the promotion of social change that will respect and protect human rights and dignity regardless of gender and sexual orientation; raise the quality of dialogue regarding inclusivity, diversity equality, and fairness for the LGBTI community; and support key stakeholders in delivering services to women and girls who are victims or potential victims of gender based violence. The Jamaica Cares activity will also be innovative as it aims to create a network of public-private partnerships in responding to the needs of three of the most vulnerable groups (women, girls, LGBTI) within society by establishing mechanisms that will widen the human rights network and sustainability thrust.

Jamaica Cares activities include evidence based dialogue, programing and policy outcomes;

access to social services essential for personal well-being and growth; engaging popular culture to create a space for change and transformation; proactive response to trafficking in persons;

combatting domestic violence and intimate partner violence; effective partnership to promote women empowerment and building public demand for change.

The interventions will include trainings, workshops, and various extracurricular and cultural activities which gather groups of people together to achieve the project’s goals. Given these activities, it is recommended that implementing partners consult USAID’s Green Meeting

Planning Checklist (IEE Annex 1 below) in order to reduce waste, conserve energy, support local producers, and improve short and long term sanitation of the meeting area.

The activities slated to be included under this IEE will not use any Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMO) or pesticides, nor will they promote invasive species.

1.3 Description of Activities

A - CBSI

Component 1: Promote community-driven activities to contribute to Improved crime prevention, Intervention and enforcement by addressing underlying causes of crime and

Promoting improved communications / interactions with police.

A clear lesson learned in Jamaica is that successful efforts must come from within rather than from the outside. Where communities themselves have been the driving force behind efforts to reduce crime and promote community safety, those efforts have been the most successful and sustainable. When community leadership and citizen participation in crime reduction programs exist, effective community / police partnerships can result in dramatic reductions in violence (as in Tredegar Park, cited in the COMET close out video and Report as well as the COMET evaluation, 2012). Further, the proposed National Crime Prevention and Community Safety

Strategy places the community at the center of a multi-sectoral participatory framework to address safety challenges facing citizens.

The Assessment of Community Security and Transformation Programs in Jamaica 2009 found that the two most vital areas to address to improve community security are strengthening local governance and improving community policing. These two areas address issues of power, accountability and participation in communities. Because of their focus on increasing the capacity to manage problems peacefully at the local level, community security is increased.

Combining action in these two areas is crucial to replacing illegitimate authority with legitimate authority. This combination of security and governance interventions can act as a platform for social activities in all other areas and is vital for sustainability. Without improved policing and legitimate governance structures, progress made through other social interventions risks being reversed

This component seeks to promote and support community efforts through a variety of approaches: training and technical assistance to targeted communities and civil society organizations; a grants program to provide support to proposals generated by community groups, churches, NGOs and others to address a variety of issues related to addressing underlying causes of crime. This component will use GCC concepts as a catalyst upon which to improve secure livelihoods. It identifies disaster reduction programs as a priority in this regard. The undertaking of such activities will also lend itself to potential microenterprise endeavors that are crucial in addressing some of the underlying causes of crime and violence. For example, collaborative police-citizen projects to retrofit community shelters with water harvesting systems and clean energy sources (such as solar panels and biodigesters) to provide “off-grid” water, energy and cooking gas services after climate-related disasters (e.g. hurricanes). This component also gives due consideration to the efforts in component 1, which is aimed at rolling out community- based policing nationally.

Government of Jamaica, Assessment of Community Security and Transformation Programs, 2009

In view of the fact that youth make up the overwhelming majority of both perpetrators and victims of crime, the contractor will undertake prevention activities addressing the following four groups: 1) youth living in disadvantaged situations who are at risk of dropping out of school or of being unemployed but who have not yet engaged in risky behavior; 2) youth who engage in risky behavior but have not yet suffered severe negative consequences – i.e. school problems and absences but still in school, involved in delinquent activities but not yet arrested;

3) youth experiencing serious negative consequences as a result of risky behavior (i.e. dropped out of school, joined violent gangs, been arrested); and victims of gender based violence.

This component is closely aligned to all three Sub - Intermediate Results as dictated in

Intermediate Result 2: “Cooperation between Communities and Law Enforcement increase”, “Violence in CRP Communities reduced”, and “Institutional Capacity of CBOs, NGOs and

MDAs improved.”

Illustrative activities under this component include:

Activity 1: Small grants to provide support for community-based organizations and community-based projects

The development of a competitive small grants program will be used for communities and civil society organizations, including women’s organizations, and community based organizations, to build capacity and develop innovative, community specific responses to issues facing women and youth, in general, and youth-at-risk, in particular. This capacity building component will seek to train eligible community organizations in project design, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and fund raising to secure future funding and ensure the sustainability of their activities, as well as in areas of leadership, advocacy and local governance participation.

The small grants activity is cross-cutting and is geared towards supporting all community-driven and culture of lawfulness activities under Components 1 and 2.

Expected Results:

Greater support for community-driven crime prevention activities, with establishment of small grants program.

Eligibility criteria and disbursement procedures in place for smooth administration of small grants to communities.

Activity 2: Support and strengthen legitimate local governance structures including CBOs and CDCs.

A key component in building safer communities is the presence of strong local governance. Law enforcement agents, social service providers, and citizens have generally agreed that the strengthening of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), such as Community Development

Committees (CDCs), Youth Clubs/Groups, Neighborhood Watch Groups, and Faith Based

Organizations (FBOs) have contributed to creating safer and more secure communities, particularly in improving the relationship between citizens and police. In the community of

Flanker, for example, community members testify that improved community policing, which was facilitated by the Peace and Justice Centre, is one of the main reasons for the improved safety in the community.

The Assessment of Community Security and Transformation Programs in Jamaica 2009 recommends that increased support should be given to building the capacity of CDCs. All GOJ programs should work to strengthen one CDC as a coordinating body in each community. The legal status of CDCs should be strengthened as part of the local government reforms and enhancing their representation and outreach are important priorities

The contractor will support such best practices through capacity building and technical assistance focused on improving participation in local governance and enhancing sustainability.

Increased participation of community members in crime prevention.

Improved cooperation between the police and communities in addressing safety and security issues.

Activity 3: Supporting youth empowerment in communities and creating youth-centered spaces and activities

High levels of youth unemployment coupled with the lack of education and vocational skills have been identified as major “push” factors for youth engagement in criminal activity. The absence of youth friendly spaces for leisure, recreation, and meaningful youth engagement is also highlighted as having deleterious effects on youth attitudes and behavior. The contractor will work with the CBOs to identify and promote alternatives to criminal behaviors, such as recreational and sports activities, education, and job opportunities and training. This will work to enhance the community’s capacity to counter criminal influences on youth-at-risk.

The contractor will work with CBOs and community consultative groups such as CDCs to identify sports and recreational activities for youth. Illustrative activities include community football and netball competitions (corner league), performance and creative arts groups, marching band and cheerleading.

Basic education and vocational training to better equip youth to take advantage of existing and new employment opportunities should be carried out through educational partnerships with institutions (but not limited to) such as HEART/NTA and the Jamaica Foundation for Life Long

Learning (JFLL). The contractor will work with local officials, communities, and others, as appropriate, in developing viable partnerships. The contractor will explore market-driven training opportunities to determine the most promising fields for new employment and will work to pursue training programs in those areas. Illustrative activities include micro-credit and micro-enterprise training, mentoring and partnership with private sector to place at-risk youth in apprenticeships and jobs.

Improved relations between the police and youth within communities.

Increased certification for youth in specific skill areas.

Government of Jamaica, Assessment of Community Security and Transformation Programs, 2009

Increased leisure and recreational activities for youth.

Impact of Component 1 over Five Years:

Increased youth participation in communities and society.

Increased capacity and more sustainable CBOs.

Significantly fewer youth engaged in violent and criminal activities.

More robust and participatory community governance structures.

Component 2: Develop long-term champions of a culture of lawfulness through engaging multiple sectors of society in a common effort to develop a culture supportive of the rule of law.

Fostering good citizenship and a culture of lawfulness is vital to building communities strong and resilient enough to resist crime and violence. In order to sustain security gains and improvements in rule of law and institutional effectiveness, citizens must have a stake in society and a positive outlook for the future. A culture of lawfulness cannot be imposed from the outside; it requires local and national support, embedded in local institutions with the requisite human and financial capacity to maintain them.

A multi-sectoral culture of lawfulness program gives citizens the tools they need to know their rights and demand that they are respected; understand, appreciate, and follow the law; and effectively collaborate with institutions, particularly local governments and security forces. To accomplish these goals, attention should be focused on youth, who are most at risk of engaging in destructive and unlawful behavior, yet also the most capable of learning to become good citizens. In addition to programs that work to keep youth in school longer and expand all forms of post-secondary training, a culture of lawfulness program, which teaches and provides complementary education to parents and others in the communities, will promote tolerance, appreciation of the law, and behavior that promotes community security.

The culture of lawfulness program has national as well as local aspects. Campaigns targeting communities and the police will be launched at a national level, but more focused efforts will be made in selected communities. Mass media culture of lawfulness campaigns can take place at both the national and local levels, depending on the type and cost of campaign proposed.

Mobilizing support for a culture of lawfulness through local civic leaders will by its nature begin at a local level in selected communities.

This component is closely aligned to all three Sub - Intermediate Results as dictated in

Intermediate Result 2: “Cooperation between Communities and Law Enforcement increase”, “Violence in CRP Communities reduced”, as well as “Institutional Capacity of CBOs, NGOs and

MDAs improved.”

Illustrative activities under this component could include:

Activity 1: Engaging police to promote a culture of lawfulness by example

Police are often the primary contact the average citizen has with the state. Thus, police play a critical role, for better or worse, in shaping public perceptions of the law. Illegal behavior by corrupt police undermines respect for the rule of law and for the state and promotes distrust and fear. At the same time, police officers who actively promote a culture of lawfulness through example and through respect for the rights of others can make a big difference in influencing the behavior of others.

The contractor will work with the JCF in augmenting current ethics training programs to promote a better understanding of how and why respect for the rule of law contributes to professional police work, and provide concrete decision-making and problem-solving skills on the part of police officers to engage the community and become positive role models. Consideration will be given to the development of GCC awareness raising as well as for specialized police training modules (integrated into the regular training curriculum) that aims to improve how police deal with increased crimes, especially gender-based violence, more likely to take place after disasters.

This will support JCF programs to improve accountability and integrity in community-police relationships, while simultaneously reducing the risks associated with climatic shocks. A portion of this program can be implemented through the CBP program outlined in Component 4.

Expected Results

A culture of lawfulness curriculum is incorporated into both entry level and in-service police training.

Police through improved behavior set an example for respect for the law and the rights of others.

Activity 2: Mass Media Campaigns to foster a culture of lawfulness

It is difficult to underestimate the influence of mass media on the attitudes and behavior of society. In addition to newspapers, television and radio, we also have the internet, mobile telephones, twitter, social networking sites, and other elements through which messages can be rapidly conveyed to an ever-growing audience. The media is an invaluable societal partner in identifying corrupt behavior and rallying public support for reforms. Thus, media training and strengthening to enhance professional skills and promote an understanding of the media’s role in fostering the rule of law is a primary component of this activity. Media professionals who would be enthusiastic and credible participants should be identified and encouraged. In addition to media training, the small grants described in Component No. 1 can be tapped into for media programs to promote the rule of law.

Journalism skills are enhanced and media campaigns launched to promote greater awareness of citizen rights and responsibilities.

Annual community forums media broadcasts.

Activity 3: Civic Leaders / Civil Society Organizations involvement in a culture of lawfulness Community organizations or individuals (sometimes religious leaders or churches, civic organizations, community activists, NGOs focusing on youth or the environment, women’s organizations, and the like) are often in daily contact with a significant percentage of the population in a community and have earned the respect of the community through their previous work or reputations for showing moral or other leadership. These community leaders and organizations can help to reinforce the “culture of lawfulness” message being taught in the schools and promoted by the mass media and will contribute their own ideas and efforts to help promote citizen responsibility and mutual respect. Through involvement in executive committees in the selected communities, these leaders / organizations can help in the development of projects, workshops, and the like to promote stronger family relationships, positive social interactions, and overall respect for the rule of law. Other activities could include a campaign to restrict consumption of alcohol in public places where it has been shown to increase violent behavior or lawlessness or “respect for others” campaigns. The specific activities to be developed will vary depending upon the priorities of the individual communities.

Executive committees in selected cities promote and coordinate a multi-pronged approach to fostering a culture of lawfulness.

Increased number of citizens promoting a cultural of lawfulness message.

Selected communities develop and implement projects designed for those particular communities that help to foster a culture of lawfulness.

Citizen awareness of and respect for the rule of law and rights of others increases, as measured by citizen surveys.

Possible replication of best practices in the Caribbean.

Impact of Component 2 after 5 years:

Increased respect for the law.

A more law abiding citizenry.

Change in percentage of citizens, including youth, with civic knowledge and/or exhibiting democratic values.

Citizen awareness of rule of law increased.

Component 3: Encourage alternative sentence (to jail) programs for juveniles.

While the overwhelming majority of youth who come into conflict with the law commit petty non-violent offences, a small percentage of youth do commit serious and violent crimes.

Considering the context of violence and neglect in the lives of many of these youth, this is not surprising, but it does mean that these youth can pose a risk to their communities and often to themselves. Yet, the evidence concerning these youth is also overwhelming: incarceration and a criminal justice response that is focused solely on punishment and deprivation of their liberty simply does not work. On the other hand, justice responses that are child focused and provide intensive community-based support, addressing the root causes of their offending, do work. The number of these initiatives is growing all over the world yet, despite real evidence of their effectiveness, they remain ad hoc, small scale initiatives. Meanwhile, reliance on long-term incarceration continues to be the norm despite overwhelming evidence that it is ineffective and can actually make the offending worse. Community-based responses can and should be developed to deal with youth who commit serious offences . In the Caribbean there is a glaring absence of appropriate institutions, programs and practices for handling juvenile offenders. The only sustainable approach to the problem of juvenile crime throughout the Caribbean requires a focus on its root causes and the development of long-term solutions that are community based.

Save the Youth: The Right Not to Lose Hope. http://www.eldis.org/vfile/upload/1/document/0708/DOC23032.pdf

This program will target first-time juvenile offenders and create specialized policies and practices to channel them into and through programs and facilities that afford the opportunity for their early rehabilitation and return to productive society.

In Jamaica, the National Youth policy states that violence both in the community and within the home is an unfortunate feature of the challenges confronting youth in the Jamaican society.

Youth both contribute to this violence and are victims of it. Statistics referenced in this policy reveal that about 15 percent of students between ages 10-18 carry a weapon to school. Fourteen percent of boys and five percent of girls have been stabbed or shot in a fight and eight percent of all adolescents have been knocked unconscious in a fight. One in six adolescent belongs to a gang at some point in their youth.

In addition, youth live in a society where drug use is pervasive. Many classified hard drugs like cocaine are increasingly easy to get. At the same time, few youths view the use of marijuana as risky due to beliefs that are deeply rooted in the culture of the Jamaican people, especially among grassroots/inner-city communities. Marijuana or “ganja” smoking among youth rose significantly between 1987 and 1997 and continues to rise. Moreover, youth are arrested, jailed and murdered at twice the rate of the general population, with over 400 youth in Juvenile

Correctional facilities and another large percentage in the general correctional services, with many possessing criminal records that present obstacles to accessing legitimate social services and accompanying opportunities.

This component represents a child-friendly, rehabilitative, integrated and holistic approach to assisting young delinquents to become active citizens through the engagement of different social actors, including alternative sentencing for youth such as community service. This includes four main areas: Prevention, Justice System, Diversion, and Reintegration and Rehabilitation.

Programs and practices will be shared with other countries in the Caribbean who are facing similar challenges.

This component falls under both Sub - Intermediate Results 1 and 2 as dictated in Intermediate

Result 2: “Cooperation between Communities and Law Enforcement increase”, as well as

“Violence in CRP Communities reduced.”

Illustrative activities under this component could include:

Activity 1: Prevention

It is important to prevent youth from coming into conflict with the law from the outset by addressing the care and protection challenges they face. This includes working to implement strategies supporting youth within their families, communities and societies. Effective early interventions with a holistic, multi-sectoral and community-based approach involving the education, health, and JCF must be involved and implemented to prevent youth from coming into conflict with the law.

Jamaica National Youth Policy, 2004

National Commission on Ganja, 2001

Jamaica National Youth Policy, 2004

Expected Results:

Emphasis on parenting and family, community, and society involvement in youth’s lives increases

Support systems for at-risk youth strengthened

Activity 2: Diversion/Alternative Sentencing

Diversion activities or alternative sentencing must be seen as the priority and the first response to youth coming into conflict with the law. The formal justice system should be reserved for serious and violent offenders only. A program for youth who have committed petty offences, usually first offences, and whose behavior has been criminalized (and who represent the overwhelming majority of juveniles in conflict with the law) should be diverted away from the criminal justice system through community-based alternative diversion mechanisms or sentencing. Diversion must take place at every given opportunity, including informal diversion mechanisms at the community level, but also within the justice system. Key actors, including community leaders, members of the JCF, and judges, should be trained to understand the importance of diversion or alternative sentencing, as well as their role in it and the alternative mechanisms available. In doing so, resources and priorities should be refocused away from the expensive, ineffective, and often dangerous justice system to developing a range of sustainable and localized community based options focused on reintegration, guidance and support.

The formal criminal justice system should only deal with the very small minority of juveniles who have committed very serious crimes and who represent a threat to themselves and/or

Jamaica.

Expected Results:

Community leaders, social workers, JCF, and judges are trained and aware of alternative sentencing mechanisms

A support system for juveniles is implemented

Recidivism of youth engaged in diversion programs or alternative sentencing decreases

Activity 3: Reintegration and Rehabilitation

In order to successfully reintegrate and rehabilitate juvenile offenders, the engagement and support of community police, key government agencies, civil society, local courts and community leaders is important. This may include such activities as training (of youth, CDA personnel and residential care staff), relationship building, advocacy, networking, providing services and safe neighborhood spaces for addressing the social needs and concerns of youth in transition from State care and the development of independent living protocols and standard operating procedures manuals for Children’s Homes and Places of Safety, and involvement with alternative sentencing to create an environment of support for juvenile offenders. As part of the youth reintegration and rehabilitation process safe neighborhood space may include the renovation or construction of a transitional housing facility for girls leaving state care.

The most marginalized youth need to be supported and encouraged to play a positive and constructive role in their community. In doing so, youth, including those who have already come into conflict with the law, should be involved in preventative strategies to minimize them coming into the law in the first place (see activity 1), as well as in the reform of the justice system and the development of community-based alternatives. Youth need the opportunity to be recognized, not just as victims or perpetrators, but as social actors and members of families, communities and societies. The aim and focus of interventions with youth deemed ‘at risk’ should be to empower and support them to respond to these challenges and to make better choices for themselves and their communities. This could include education, skill development and employment.

Many offenders are school dropouts; therefore, this activity will assist offenders in completing their primary and secondary school education. Many offenders, including gang members, violate the law in response to having little education and even less chance of being employed. This activity is designed to prepare juvenile offenders to enter the workforce via intensive employment-readiness training and internships. This activity also helps to connect young people to post-secondary education and job-training programs that provide industry-recognized certification and unsubsidized employment. This activity should occur alongside and complement Component 2, Activity 3.

Expected Results:

Programs that equip juvenile offenders with skills to allow them to engage in lawful money making endeavors are strengthened.

Increased readiness of juveniles transitioning from State care to independent living.

More juvenile offenders engage in the formal sector.

Decrease in recidivism.

Independent Living Protocol and procedures manuals developed and adopted into the operating procedures of the Child Development Agency.

Safe neighborhood space established as ‘transitional housing’ to accommodate female juvenile offenders exiting State care for up to two years.

Best practices disseminated and shared throughout the Caribbean.

Juvenile justice programs rolled out throughout the Caribbean.

Impact of Component 3 over five years:

Reduced recidivism among youth throughout the Caribbean.

Decrease in number of crimes committed by young people Caribbean-wide.

Decreased in number of youth in jail throughout the Caribbean.

Increase number of juvenile delinquents engaged in society Caribbean-wide.

Smoother transition of youth from State care to adulthood and independent living.

Component 4: Continued Support for the Jamaican Constabulary Force Community-

Based Policing (CBP) Program.

The Jamaican Constabulary Force has made progress in recent years in moving forward to implement CBP on a national level, but work remains to be done. As recommended in the

COMET Evaluation, 2012, efforts must be made to consolidate the gains that have been in CBP.

This component falls under both Sub - Intermediate Results 1 and 2 as dictated in Intermediate

Result 2: “Cooperation between Communities and Law Enforcement increase”, as well as

“Violence in CRP Communities reduced.” Of course, it is more closely aligned with the former rather than the latter.

This component will include the following illustrative activities:

Activity 1: Continue support for the national roll-out of community-based policing

The JCF has made important strides incorporating the Community-Based Policing (CBP) Model for the past decade. At this point manuals have been developed, officials trained and pilot projects implemented that have facilitated the identification of good practices. The present leadership supports CBP and it has been mainstreamed into the JCF vis-à-vis theories, principles and practices. Another key aspect of the CBP approach is the involvement of communities in the process. The continued dissemination of information and heightened public awareness through the media and other civic campaigns have secured buy-in and promoted important partnerships between the JCF and communities in tackling issues of crime and violence and enhancing safety and security.

The Contractor will support ongoing CBP training and development initiatives in cooperation with and supplemental to the Change Leader program to facilitate the reform process and strengthen the elements needed for a successful nationwide implementation of CBP. As required by any change management effort, incentives for operating in a community-based fashion must be developed. Effective implementation of CBP principles should be rewarded by promotions and other incentives, and embracing CBP should be seen as the means of moving up in a police career. Those who obstruct change should be marginalized and penalized. The changes must be inserted into daily work routines. Leaders can identify small instances of good performance and recognize those who are part of the shift in philosophy.

The contractor should propose activities to be carried out in police stations that will improve community/police relations. Such activities could include mechanisms to provide information on the procedures and services, with particular attention to services for victims of domestic and sexual violence and referrals to other institutions when necessary. Other activities could include regular meetings with community organizations to share concerns, gather information on dangerous spots, disseminate information and paraphernalia on CBP and anti-corruption, disseminate information on the impact of firearms and alcohol in crime in certain settings, as well as providing feedback to the JCF concerning its overall progress in implementing CBP.

Activities focusing on youth, such as sponsorship of sports leagues or outreach activities to schools, are strongly encouraged. Police can improve their relations with youth and youth by carrying out activities such as mock investigations of common crimes in a classroom setting that will help explain the different roles of each actor in the criminal justice system, including the role of citizens as affected parties and witnesses, and how a case is solved in practice. Such activities can greatly help citizens understand the role of the police and how they can support the police in crime prevention, as well as educate them about the broader criminal justice system. In this regard, consideration should be given to strengthening of, or creating, local climate change adaptation committees, linked with the local authorities and police to coordinate on weather-related disaster response.

Improved citizen perceptions with improved services at Police stations.

Improved engagement of community members in Neighborhood Watch activities.

More accountability…